Device for limiting opening movement of a door



28, 1956 B- WOODARD ETAL 2,760,806

DEVICE FOR LIMITING OPENING MOVEMENT OF A DOOR Filed Nov. 18, 1953 ATTORNEKS 2,760,806 Patented Aug. 28, 1956 DEVICE FOR LIMITING OPENING MOVEMENT 5 OF A DOOR Burnice Woodard, Sundown, and Eurshal T. Franks,

Seminole, Tex.

Application November 18, 1953, Serial No. 392,936

7 Claims. (Cl. 292338) device of the indicated type which is economical in cost,

simple and easy to install, and highly effective in operation.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated type which will stop opening movement of a door at a desired point, and which will not hold the door in open. position, but will permit same to close, thereby preventing the entrance of flies, mosquitoes, and other insects.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated type which can be adjusted to fit doors of different sizes, and which can be installed on existing doors without modification of the existing structure thereof. 7

Still another object of the invention is the provision of a device of the indicated type including a stop member movable from an inoperative position adjacent the door to an operative position away from the door, when the same is moved from closed to open position, to stop further opening movement thereof.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description, taken with-the accompanying drawing, wherein: V

Figure 1 is a horizontal cross-sectional view of a portion of a door and the supporting wall structure therefor, showing the device of the invention applied thereto, the door being shown in closed position;

Figure 2 is a view similar to Figure 1 but showing-the door in open position;

Figure 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1; and

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of the apparatus shown detached fromthe supporting wall structure, the parts being shown in the positions they occupy when the door is closed.

In general, the device of the invention comprises an elongated stop member adapted to be hingedly connected adjacent one end thereof to a door, the stop member having a normal inoperative position adjacent the door when the same is closed, and being swingable away from the door during opening movement thereof, such swinging movement away from the door positioning the stop member for engagement with a supporting wall structure adjacent the door to prevent further opening movement thereof. Swinging movement is imparted to the stop member by an arm having one end thereof hingedly connected to an intermediate portion of the stop member and its opposite end pivotally connected to the supporting wall structure adjacent the hinged connection of the door therewith.

Referring now to the drawing, the numeral 10 designates a portion of a door hingedly connected to a supporting wall structure 11 by hinges 12. The door 10 may be a screen door, a garage door, or, in fact, any door hingedly connected to a supporting wall structure. As illustrated in the drawing, the door 10 is mounted for swinging movement in a horizontal plane between the closed position shown in Figure 1 and the open position shown in Figure 2.

The device for limiting opening movement of the door comprises an elongated stop member 13 preferably, though not necessarily, tubular in shape, adapted to be pivotally secured to the door by a hinge member 14. The hinge member 14 may desirably comprise a flat portion 15, secured to the door by screws 16 and a curved portion 17 secured to the stop member 13 by rivets or bolts 18. A pin 19 is received in suitable openings in the portions 15 and 17 and serves to pivotally connect them together.

In a preferred arrangement, the stop member 13 lies closely adjacent the door when it is in closed position, so as to present a minimum of interference with objects or activities in the immediate vicinity of the door. This is clearly shown in Figure 1. It will also be noted from Figure 1 that the stop member 13 has a length such that the free end 20 thereof extends beyond the hinged connection of the door 10 with the supporting wall structure 11. The purpose of this will become more apparent hereinafter.

As the door 10 is moved from closed position to opened position, thestop member 13 is swung horizontally in a direction away from the door by an arm 22. This causes the stop member to assume the operative position, shown in Figure 2, such that the end 20 thereof will engage the supporting wall structure 11 when the door has been opened apredetermined amount. In order to prevent marking, scarring or otherwise damaging the supporting wall structure, the end of the stop member 13 may desirably be provided with a rubber cap 23.

At one end thereof, the arm 22 is pivotally connected to a facing strip 24, or other suitable portion of the supporting wall structure 11, by a hinge member-25,- which may be the same as the hinge member 14, previously described herein. At its opposite end, the arm- 22 is pivotally connected to an intermediate portion of the stop member 13 by a pin 26. A series of openings 27 may be provided in the stop member 13 for receiving the pin26 in order that the pivotal connection between the arm and stop member may be varied, as desired, to adjust the device to different structures and conditions of use. Where the stop member 13 is tubular in shape, the arm 22 is preferably concavely curved, as shown, sons to snugly receive the stop member when the door is in closed position. This permits the stop member to be positioned closely adjacent the door when it is closed, and in addition, strengthens and rigidifies the device, in its inoperative position, thereby minimizing the possibilty of damage to same. V

The device is very simply, easily and quickly installed by securing the portion 15 of the hinge member 14 to the door 10, and the corresponding portion of the hinge member 25 to the strip 24, or other portion of the supporting wall structure 11. No modification of the existing door or wall structure is required except to receive the attaching screws or other fastening devices. When the device is installed, as indicated, free opening and closing movement of the door is permitted, and during such movement of the door the arm 22 swings the stop member 13 between its inoperative position, shown in Figure 1, and its operative position, shown in Figure 2. In its operative position, the end of the stop member, or the rubber cap 23 thereon, engages the supporting wall structure 11 to stop further opening movement of the door. It should be noted, however, that the device does not hold the door in open position. Thus, if the door happens to be a screen door, which has been accidently blown open by the wind, the door may be automatically returned to closed position, by a spring or the like, as soon as the force of the wind a'hates; This serves to minimize the entrance of flies, mosquitoes, and other insects, which can enter freely as long as the door is held in open position.

The degree of opening of the door may be varied by suitable changes in the proportions and positions of the parts. Thus, for example, if the device, as shown in Figure 1, is moved to the right, the door may be opened to a greater extent. Conversely, if the device is moved to'the left, a lesser degree of opening of the door is permitted. Variation of the extent of the opening of the door may also be obtained by varying the length of the stop member as well as the position of the pivotal connection thereof with the arm 22. The latter feature also permits adjustment of the device for difierent door structures and uses.

It will thus'be seen that the present invention provides a device of the indicated type which is economical in construction, simple and easy to install, and highly effective in'use. The device is not easily broken and will give satisfactory service indefinitely with no attention other than possible infrequent lubrication of the pivoted and hinged connections; The device provides a minimum of interference with objects or activities in the vicinity of the door and any such interference may be further minimized by proper positioning of the device. Thus it may be positioned adjacent the top or bottom of the door or at any intermediate point, as desired, to accomplish the desired result.

While apreferred embodiment of the invention has been disclosed, the invention is not to be construed as limited to the specific details illustrated and described except as included in the following claims.

We claim:

1. A device for limiting opening movement of a hinged door comprising an elongated stop member adapted to be pivotally connected to the door, an arm adapted to be pivotally connected to a portion of the structure with which suchdoor is associated, and means hingedly connecting said arm to said elongated stop member, said stop member'having an extension thereon projecting substantially beyond its hinged connection with said arm and adapted toengage a portion'of the structure with which said door is associated when the door is moved toa'predetermined open position.

2. A device as set out in claim 1 wherein the means connecting the arm to the stop member may be selectively locatedat one of aplurality of points on the stop memher to vary the limiting effect of the device.

3. A device for limiting opening movement of a door hingedly connected to a supporting wall structure comprising an elongated stop member adapted to be pivotally connected to the door for swinging movement toward and away from the door when it is moved between opened and closed positions, said stop member having a length such that the free end thereof engages the supporting wall structure when the door is moved to a predetermined opened position to prevent further opening movement of the door, and means for causing swinging movement of the stop member in response to opening and closing movement of the door comprising an arm adapted to be pivot ally connected to the supporting wall struetnreat one end thereof, the opposite end of the arm being hingedly con nected to an intermediate portion of said stop member.

4. A device for limiting opening movement of a door hingedly connected to a supporting wall structure comprising an elongated stop member adapted to be pivotally connected at one end thereof to the door, an arm adapted to be pivotally connected at one end thereof to said supporting wall structure and having its opposite hingedly connected to an intermediate portion of said stop member, said arm and stop member being swingable toward said door when it is being closed and being swingable away from said door when it is being opened, said swinging movement of the stop member away from the door positioning the same for engagement with the supporting wall structure to limit further opening movement of the door.

5. In a hinged door structure, a device for limiting opening movement of the door comprising an elongated stop member hingedly connected to the door and occupying an inoperative position in close proximity to the door when the same is closed, and means for effecting swing ing movement of the stop member to an operative position away from the door when it is moved to open position, said means comprising an arm hingedly connected at one end thereof to an intermediate portion of the stop member and having its opposite end pivotally connected to a portion of the structure with which the door is associated.

6. A device for limiting opening movement of a door hingedly connected to a supporting wall structure comprising an elongated stop member adapted to be pivotally connected to the door for swinging movement between an inoperative position adjacent the door and an operative position away from the door as the door is moved between open and closed positions, said stop member having a length such that when disposed in its inoperative position adjacent the door the free end thereof projects beyond the hinged connection of the door with the supporting wall structure, and means for causing swinging movement of the stop member in response to opening and closing movement of the door comprising an arm adapted to be pivotally connected to the supporting wall structure at one end thereof and to an intermediate portion of said stop member at the opposite end thereof, whereby when said stop member is swung away from the door during opening movement thereof, the end of the stop member will engage the supporting wall structure when the door has been opened a predetermined amount to stop further opening movement thereof.

7. Apparatus of the type set forth in claim 6 wherein said stop member is a tubular member and said arm is curved and shaped to receive the stop member when it occupies an inoperative position adjacent the door.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 424,900 Phillips Apr. 1, 1890 1,065,512 Eriksson June 24, 1913 1,898,562 More Feb. 21, 1933 

